Method of making producer gas



May 20, 1930. v R; w s 1,758,991

METHOD OF MAKING PRODUCER GAS Filed Sept. 1'7, 1924 A TTORNEYS "T 45 INVENTOR. 3; R0 barf J1. ZJz'ZZz's.

Patented May 23, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT L. WILLIS, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO METHOD OF MAKING PRODUCER GAS Application filed September 17, 1924. Serial No. 738,223. 1

This invention relates to a method of making producer gas. More particularly it comprises the controlling of gas producers by a pair of heat-responsive devices, one located in the outlet passageway of the gas generator and the other located in the column of air and steam admitted to the base of the apparatus, the former being used to control the quantity of air admitted to the generating chamber and the latter being used to regulate the quantity of steam adcitted to the generating chamber and to keep said quantity of steam in proper proportion to said quantity of air. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means and method hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 of the drawings .is a side elevation partly in section showing a gas producer provided with an electrically controlled motor-blower and a thermostatically controlled source of steam supply; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a steam jet type of apparatus for introducing steam and air into the gas producer.

As is shown in the drawing, the gas producer includes a gas generating chamber 1, having a coal admission opening 2 at one side of the top thereof and a gas outlet 3 on the opposite side thereof. The lower side wall 4 of the gas producer is inwardly inclined and a similarly inclined frustro-conical wall 5 is provided centrally of the base surrounding a vertical air and steam inlet blast pipe 6 which discharges beneath a distributor or blast cover 7. The base 80f the generator may be equipped with the usual ash discharging devices, forming no part of the present invention.

In the type of device shown in Fig. 1, a thermo-couple 11 is positioned in the pro ducer gas outlet passageway at a point adjacent the top of the producer and controls a pydriving a rheostat 15 forming part of an elecvtric circuit 16 which varies the speed of an electric motor 17 directly connected with the ablower 18 supplying air through the conduit 19 to the base of the blast pipe 6. A steam pipe 21 is positioned centrally of the base of the blast pipe 6 and is connected with a suitable source of steam supply (not shown). A diaphragm motor valve 22 is provided in the steam supply pipe. At an intermediate point in the blast pipe where it will be responsive to the heat of the combined air and steam supply for the gas producer, a thermostat 23 is provided. Said thermostat is adapted to control said diaphragm motor valve 22, the degree of opening of which is varied by the temperature of the combined air and steam surrounding the thermostat 23 and is of such a construction that it may be set to admit the proper amount-of steam to hold the blast mixture temperature at the proper point.

Good producer practice has shown that the temperature of the outgoing gases at 11 should be maintained at 1700 F. and that the temperature of the steam and air mixture at, 23 should be maintained at 135 F. The percentage of steam to air must be varied with the particular atmospheric conditions, including consideration of the moisture present and the original temperature of the air. It has been found that the temperature 135 E, if maintained, gives the best results.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is of identical construction with that disclosed in Fig. 1 so far as it releates to the gas producer. In place, however, of the motor-blower being used to carry air under pressure into the base of the gas producer, an injector type of steam jet nozzle 31 is used, said jet having a funnel-shaped blast pipe 32 beneath which a series of three or more conical-shaped ports 33 are mounted in spaced relation to the upper end'of the nozzle of the steam supply pipe 34. A hood 35 surrounds the lower end of the steam jet blower, and a valve 36 controls the admission of air thereto. The thermocouple 41 mounted in the gas outlet passageway 3 serves to control a pyrometer regulator 60 which controls relays 61 in an electric circuit including a motor (32 which controls the valve 36 in the base of the hood controlling the admission of air to the conical parts of the blower. A thermostat 51 is mounted in the blast pipe 32 and controls a diaphragm motor valve a5 in a steam supply line 3st. The degree of opening of the val i5 is determined by the temperature of the combined air and steam surrounding the thermostat 51 and is of such construction that it may be set to admit the proper amount of steam to hold the blast mixture temperature at the proper point.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. l is as follows: The thermocouple 11 is positioned in the gas outlet passageway 3 and the pyrometer controller 12 is adjusted to function at the temperature of outlet gas which gives the most efiicient operating conditions in the gas producer. When the temperature in this passageway rises or falls from this point, the pyromctcr regulator will actuate the relays 13, which, in turn, will cause the motor 14 to rotate the rheostat l5 and through the circuit 16 control the quantity of air delivered by the motor-blower 18. \Vith the increasev or decrease of air at the base of the gas producer a proportionate change in the quantity of steam admitted to the blast pipe is necessary. This is provided for by the thermostat 23, which is mounted in the blast pipe at a point where the mixture of air and steam passes upwardly to the gas generating chamber. The temperature of this column of air and steam is directly affected by the respective quantities of these gasifying mediums and the thermostat correspondingly actuates the diaphragm valve 22 which, in turn, increases or decreases the amount of steam admitted to the blast pipe until the correct temperature of the mixture is reestablished.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the thermo-couple 41, through the pyrometer controller 60, controls the relays (S1 in elec tric circuit 63, which, in turn, actuates motor 62 which changes position of air valve 36 increasing or decreasing amount of air admitted to hood 35, which, in turn, will change the degree of temperature of gases surrounding thermostat 51. This will cause the thermostat to actuate steam valve 45 and decrease or increase the amount of steam admitted until temperature of the mixture of steam and air is reestablished at the proper point.

Thus with either form of apparatus above described, the automatic control of the gas producer may be maintained. It is important to have the supply of the fluids injected into the fuel bed properly proportioned to each other, as well as to the conditions within the gas chamber. During the operation of the gas producer the depth of the ash zone will increase and unless the air blast and steam supply are proportionately controlled, the combustion zone and distillation zone within the gas producer will be of a depth other than those required for the most efficient operation of the gas producer. Thus, by taking the temperature in the gas outlet passageway, at which the most eflicient operation of the gas producer is indicated, as the standard, and changing the several factors tending to produce combustion, in the proper degree, the conditions within the generating chamber will be automatically maintained at the point of highest eliiciency.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by the following claim or its equivalent be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention A method of making producer gas in a gas producer having a solid fuel bed, which comprises blasting the fuel bed With mixed air and steam and thereby generating producer gas, automatically controlling the quantity of air admitted by the temperature of the outgoing producer gas, and automatically controlling the quantity of steam admitted by the temperature of the mixed air and steam being admitted to the base of the fuel bed.

Signed by me, this 15th day of September,

ROBERT L. WILLIS. 

